New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-06
POPULAR DISSERTATIONS
AMERICAN TRADE In THE pAcrru
HOW HOLD on THE SAMOAN ISLANDS w.s,
BY THE UNITED STATES

BY THE UNITED STATES
To the Ed,tOr Of The Tribune
SIR The interest manifested by you in the vain. .,
our people of the trade Of the Samoan group Of
lying in ridPacifc Ocean. induces 10 ask yon f.. "
opportunity 10 relate the stsry Of the failure Of ,,a
Government tn support an attempt, made several -.
ago. capture the trade Of these and other island, in
Pacific Ocean In the year OF 1871 entered isto con
tract with the Government OF Aew-Zeaana to dellv.r
monthly mail between ports in that island and San Fr.
cisco, with the payment Of subs d. Of $3.50 mar
nHm-the Governments Of New South Wales and yic,.,'
joining in promise to New-Zealand to grant adlt,,,
subsidies of like amount. but which both failed to n
form. This contract with the Postmaster-Gep.rai .,
New-Zealand. sir Julius vsysl. was the a.,
and probably the only one mads h.
American citizen with British subjects "a.
the delivery of nals In Americana built shin,
In the performance OF this service 1t was desirable "a
have coalnE station. tho distance being via Ho,o
lulu, port OF call, about 6OO) miles
The samoan group found to lie IN the direct ro,,
for steamers running between those ports asd not %,
from midway 1t was determined to secure "A ce,u,
and trading station in Of hose lsand and the har
Dor Of PagoPags in the Island Of ruula the only dren
water hsrbOr in tho group, selected. Can,.ta
L. Wskemau we'll known in the Pacific In those dav.
dispatched by in the latter part OF September
1871, TO these Islands to obtain what wanted n.
Only secured contracts with the chief that island
for coaag station but for sites for wharyes an,
warehouses to be built for such trade might arise
The great variety and abundance Of tropical growth
cOttonnof the finest quality included, likely 10 find
ready and lucrative market In the ports OF our P,cisc
coast and elsewhere, promi'et a large business
Captain Wakeman not only arranged for c1aiing sra,
tons for my bu prepared the way with the
chiefs of the principal ISLANDS for the treaty which wa,
sosn afterward sotiated the representative
OF our Government and those chiefs. h, ret i'm ia
found Captan-Aimir Wiuslow at Honolulu in COM
In nd of the United states Pacific Squadron who w,s
induced to dispatch without delay Cap ain Richard "
Meade command Of the United states steamer Nara
gsnset then lying at Honolulu to the habor " Page.
Page.
The visit resulted in the making OF treaty with tho
chiefs OF the several Islands granting to the United
states exclusive privilege to coal NJ s,s,on in Tue
harbor OF Pago-Pago Island OF Tutdl.a. AMI naval sta
ton for tae Uscd states Government only" brought
the treaty from tie Paclfc and delivered II person.
with all the herogyphics OF all the chefs attached
to President Grant, who thought IL OF great Value
II regular course sent 10 the Department OF STATE
and thence tie Committee Of Foreign Rela.as taen
presided by the senator from our state. Roscoe
Conkllng. wno net finding any political capital To bs
made Of the treaty, gave II le or 10 attention
Nstwits tle strong press ire OF tao NAvI De-
partment .or action lie allowed II to sumbsr in ais
hi tee AMI there 1t seepeth still
Thus was lost b. the saeer neglect OF political rsp
ernneDt an opportunity TO secure TIE best coalius
station IN the Pacific ocean without price and without
the necessity II exercising any gsyer nmsHt@i proiee
ton The ISLANDS. AT this time prsminsn' AMI
wealthy lamblrE house established al AplA IN me
adjacent island of Upplo the largest OF tue group, dos:
extensive business and attempting To iniieace tie
legislative affairs Of the native Government, checked
sBlJ by the interp s,on OF the British AMI An'DcsR
COnsuls. This German lniaence, encouraged ~ Cois.
Bismarck. become stronger since thsn, nntt nov
only matter 81 time. unless oar own OF tAc Bit
i.h Government protests. when tho German. Ail
actually take possession Of the entire group AID a .he
trade OF those v,iua u isans-l raie vA's an 30
made mucI more valuable than that OF Ito Sandwich
Islands.
4 part 81 the scheme cOnnsctel with the a'orsrlsci
mai ami passenger service was ~ capture Tor
ty the trade the 1, ands d. tue facar o,e4s
~ hen las quit az Tie eats % eya.sJ. lhi''l 80 a
lions were odl c'np.rtc Win ne o. IA
hat 10 establish sastIlY lHt Of sHAl So nrr, c'n
nee tns lah!u Win ~anOa, iuertp ~ ~ ie-n.A uaN
steamer. a. Fog Ia-o. hat Cove n"ent ~ ~ sniI
mail sun.ids therefor lie SsuiNlrI Island. Ner ssis
a port Of cal AMI the Iaw.'n D"'rruu."nt PA! slS
Sly Tor lie delivery o. zoe mall AZ sioaelill iforis
"sre ~ ode 90 obtain subsidy OF rudll an"dh rem ar
Government The committees 81 thr -ena'. 90 'wS &c.
cs,Ve sessions oi 'ohstr', unanimous ir .H.Hlei
tue psyEirn- OF -ucn subsidy. President 'rlnt getsH
sid, tor maj service tins particular rour Nosih-
st"aln. Al ia, I-N"lahc' -.lo t.- mra'Fe ".s 10
tbres vOss. these nal vJe, bsuz east ~ rvbder Noh
linr am tnc southern srnaior-. 49,.
having TAI eel 10 luhl their promises 20 pay ma $40
siIlr- 10 lIr 81 AneilcaibiIf ships a. tnhIuitNob
n Sew Lra'dud. the mall seAu-rs alter running
nearly years 1T "a con iIuOns loo. were WE4ITtHh
/ he com cancelled, me Government ot rev
Ical ,Lt .yls- 10. ascent AID % the Haze ac>uDw'
ciging IN t. Parli< uent the good tain win NAt 'ne
business mad been -rcuiei by TIE undri~lEAei.
r tBs CONTRACT Tor HAL service 80 Use ~
cin- Ocean tiIf m KAT snow ~ the >Spc sttirhrlt
o mucn cOuntry loss by sentin- III re- pom
clans 10 ON res, wrAngc place aud spots, ia.
ea sold men Of airs ant havlag tho bcG
a.,ic-t, OF thcir oouuir al heart The record %!
tg-It a
hat the earlier DAYS our Republic mo IA tines 4''s
those Gaf lAnes tdJlY weak ana snort.
.hic,l. II Judge the sal plight IN which oar
maritime interests placed by John q lincy iaus
An ni. coutrupur,rirs ". n. WEiB
N,Ir- Intk. Doc. D. LIZ.